Mandi Schwartz Update: Q+A with Rick Schwartz, Mandi's Father

Mandi Schwartz. (photo by Sam Rubin '95, Yale Sports Publicity)

Jul 29, 2010

Yale hockey center Mandi
Schwartz, her parents Carol and Rick, and her fiancée
Kaylem Prefontaine have been in Seattle since last week in
preparation for a cord blood transplant to treat her leukemia. The
procedure will take place at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance,
which partners with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a
pre-eminent institution for treating hematologic malignancies.
Mandi's father recently provided this update for all those
concerned about her health.

1) How is Mandi doing?

Mandi is doing fine. She has been undergoing
pre-tests for the transplant and we are participating in some
educational seminars. Her health is good and she is
continuing to work on some strengthening to ensure she is in good
condition for the transplant. Her transplant team of
professionals has done a great job ensuring she is comfortable with
and knowledgeable about the upcoming transplant.

2) How can any of us best help her, and/or
her family, right now?

Cord blood donations and bone marrow registration still remain
our family's top priorities. Education and awareness about
the world-wide need for donors benefits not just us but all
patients in need of a transplant and there are many such
patients.

3) When is Mandi's cord blood transplant
scheduled?

We're scheduled for August 26. [Editor's note: the date has
since been changed to August 27]

4) Anything else you'd like to share at this
point?

Right now we are very happy with our temporary home in
Seattle. We'd like to thank everyone for all of their
support, and remind everyone to please continue to support cord
blood donation and bone marrow donor testing to help patients in
need.